Parents Of Teens Are The Rule Breakers Behind The Wheel

August 2, 2018

When teens start driving, parents typically set ground rules they need to follow, however, a new study conducted by Liberty Mutual Insurance reveals that 37% of parents admit to not enforcing punishments when their teen breaks a rule or even the law. Thirty-eight percent of parents say they don’t enforce the rules because it’s an inconvenience. More surprisingly, parents exhibit dangerous driving habits and frequently do so as often as their teens. In fact, 37% of parents are using apps while driving compared to 38% of teens. Other findings:

– The primary reasons teens are using their phones while driving or when they are stopped at red lights are to respond to (47%) or contact their parents (44%).

– 46% of teens and 41% of parents who use their phones while driving considers red lights and stop signs to be socially acceptable places to use their phone, with 37% of teens and 34% of parents even considering it safe.

– 20% of parents admit to texting and driving, though 30% of teens say their parent’s text and drive, a sign that parents may not always be honest about reporting their bad behaviors.

– Parents are engaged in distracted and dangerous behaviors behind the wheel at similar rates as their teens. These include:

Behavior while Driving

Parents

Teens

Speeding 10+mph

37%

27%

Multi-tasking

27%

23%

Driving when drowsy

26%

22%

Checking phone notifications

26%

21%

Texting

20%

18%

Driving with headphones on

19%

17%

Taking selfies

14%

15%

While 84% of parents say they change their behavior when asked, only 56% of teens say this is true.